“Implosion at Los Alamos: How Crime Corruption and Cover-ups Jeopardize America’s Nuclear Weapons Secrets,” authored by former LANL security official Glenn Walp, tells the story of Walp’s efforts to expose theft and lapsed security at LANL in 2002.

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Glenn Walp

His book was among nearly 4,000 reviewed from the U.S., Canada and seven other countries for the 2011 IPPY Book Awards (Independent Publisher Book awards.)

“The gold in my category went to Columbia University Press – so I feel I am in good company,” Walp said. “This international award solidifies the fact that the citizenry of the world are highly concerned about the protection of America’s nuclear weapons secrets, and that Los Alamos National Laboratory must become ‘heart attack’ serious about ensuring the security of these secrets, before it is too late.”

Walp explained that the reason he wrote the book was to shed light on what happened during his tenure at LANL.

“‘Implosion at Los Alamos’ reveals failed security, crime, mismanagement, cover-ups and corruption at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, Ground Zero for America’s strongest defense against rogue nations and terrorist entities – at least it should be,” he said.

Along with two colleagues, Walp worked to process $3 million worth of cases involving stolen or missing taxpayer property, which included 400 computers that potentially housed nuclear secrets, but they found resistance from other top lab officials, he said, adding that he was wrongfully fired in late 2002, rehired as a consultant and ultimately paid a settlement for his mistreatment.

LANL originally hired Walp, a former Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner with 29 years experience, to investigate criminal activity and ineffective security, which had permeated the lab since 9/11, he said.

Concerned that public exposure of these debacles could jeopardize LANL’S government contract, he said that certain lab officials opposed his efforts at every turn.

“We felt we had to continue our mission in order to expose to the world the real and present danger to America’s nuclear secrets, despite their efforts to stop us,” Walp said. “We proved through well-documented facts that because of the lab’s failed security throughout the first decade of the 21st century, America and her allies are vulnerable to those who may now be in possession of America’s darkest nuclear weapons secrets.”

Walp is traveling to New York to accept the international award for his book on May 23.